THE Chook food police are back.
Apologies for the hiatus, it’s a long story involving a cardiologist, a fortune teller from Freo Markets and some plonker from the western suburbs.
Reinvigorated, I grabbed my plastic bib, fired up the Chook jalopy and spluttered down Canning Highway, heading for the Fremantle Arts Centre.
FAC is one of the best freebies in the port city: great exhibitions in a former asylum, gorgeous shady courtyard, and lots of top Sunday music. Does it get any more Fremantle? It’s just missing a stall selling hemp Speedos.
The only part that’s been lacking is the food. Despite the fantastic setting, the cafe’s been a bit of a merry-go-round in recent years and never found its footing.
I guess the location is a double-edged sword—during the week you’re not getting much foot traffic.
Anyway, I was here to try Plated Cafe, which opened in September last year.
The menu had an Asian bent with dishes like steam prawn dumplings, steam bao, Vietnamese pancakes and claypot rice.
But there were also some dishes for those flag-waving jingoistic Aussies who worship at the feet of trailers, utes and caravans including cooked breakfast, waffles, fries, and a kids menu.
It’s a great menu with lots of little surprises like the nordic breakfast and shakshuka, and there’s a good range of hot and cold drinks with everything from Earl Grey to Matcha.
Recently back from a four month sojourn in Italy with husband Dave (she’ll probably need counselling), Jenny D’Anger was getting tucked into her Gado Gado ($19 GF, VO).
“From first bite the gado took me back to early Bali days, long before the hoards of tourists discovered it, and Sunday roast ‘like mum makes’ appeared on menus,” she said.
“But this was an Aussie interpretation, a deconstructed version with an assortment of steamed vegetables, including pumpkin, and fresh edamame (which in my opinion beat peas hands down).
“The dish was topped with a generous serve of fresh coriander, creating flavour heaven when combined with the classic Indonesian peanut sauce, each distinct while making its opposite really sing.
“An 8 Alphabet cold pressed juice ($8) with apple, beetroot, carrot, lime and ginger, was the perfect accompaniment on a lovely summery day.”
I went for the crispy wonton tostada ($19 + egg $3). A very hearty and generous serve with plenty of gochujang pulled beef, slaw and spicy mayo.
Dumplings
The beef was the star of the show: tender, flavoursome and lots of it.
The mayo wasn’t too hot and the toasted sesame added a nice tang.
The crispy wontons were huge with a nice crunchy texture.
My only gripe: the slaw got a bit repetitive and there could have been something else in there to mix things up.
I was impressed with the price point at Plated: most dishes were under $20 or just over, which is unheard of in these times of rocketing oil prices and deranged presidents.
And the portions weren’t measly, in fact they were very generous and I struggled to finish mine.
There was also a display cabinet at the till with cakes, Chinese dumplings, sandwiches and other delicious looking goodies.
The setting is shady and relaxing—a gorgeous limestone courtyard with tasteful little tables and benches sprinkled amongst the lush plants and trees.
Plated is worthy of the surroundings and a great addition to the Fremantle Arts Centre.
Right, I’m off to the markets to buy those hemp Speedos.
Plated Cafe
1 Finnerty St, Fremantle
facebook.com/PlatedcafeWFAC
by STEPHEN POLLOCK